Vacuum handling device



Dec. 2, 1952 H H, LEN RT 2,620,217

VACUUM HANDLING DEVICE Filed Sept. 10, 1948 I2 H 0 L3 FIG. 2

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l3 l2 I0 FIG. 3

1M EA TOR HARRY H. LENHART 4, %&

ATTORN EY Patented Dec. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFF- l-CE VACUUM HANDLINGDEVICE Harry .H. Lenhart, Cleveland; Ohio .Application September 10, 1948, Serial No. 48,689

9' Claims.

.1 This invention rclates to =ahandling implement-primarily adaptedfor lifting flat sheet material suchas sheet steel, glass and the like but vide a suction-cup lifting implementwhich isinexpensive in its cost yet rugged in its construction and which will exert a .suctional force substantially proportionalto the weight of the object tobe. lifted.

Fora better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In accordancewith the invention there is provided a handling implement .primarily for fiat sheets of rigid material which comprisesa resilient diaphragm whose peripheral edge lies in a plane. A rigid cup is mounted over the diaphragm with the lip of the cup engagin the peripheral edge portion ofthe diaphragm and with the central .portion of the'cup spaced away from the central portion of the diaphragm. One .end of..a stem which extends through-a hole .in the cup is connectedto the central portion of the diaphragm and theother end of the stem is con nected to a first handle which is adapted to be gripped-by the fingers of an operator. A second handle is provided and means connect it to the cup. The first handle is positioned between the cup and the second handle and is spaced away from the second handle whereby an operator with one hand around the two handles, upon squeezing, can pull the first handle toward the second handle thereby pulling the central portion of the diaphragm up into the cup.

Fig. 1 of the single sheet of drawing shows a side'view of the invention in position on an object to'be lifted.

"Fig. 2 is a side view of the device ready to lift the object; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 33 of Fig. 2.

The handling implement of this invention is .primarilyadapted for lifting flat sheets ofinetal or glass such as the sheet identified by the reference character I'll-in the drawing; although it may of course be used forlifting-m'any other objects.

.A resilient diaphragm I, preferably made of good grade rubbenisgprovided. It maybe slightly concave-in its unstressed condition and its -peripheral edge lies in 'aplane so that=whenit-is placed firmly on the sheet I0 it contacts the sheet around its entire periphery. A rigid metal cup I2 is mounted over the rubberdiaphragm I I with the central portion of the diaphragm-within the cup, .and the peripheral lip'of thecup engages the peripheral edge portionof the rubber diaphragm. The cup I2 is sufficiently deep that the central portion of the slightly concave diaphragm l I is normally spaced away from the bottom thereof.

preferably though not necessarily, is positioned between the bottom of the cup and the central portion it of the compression member I6. One end of a flat spring 20 is connected to the :un-

derneath side of the handle l5 within a hollowed-out location I5. The other end 2! of the spring 29:1'ests up'against'the handle l5:.and the central portion 22 is bowed away therefrom down toward thecuppersurface of the handle H. A slot 23 is provided in the spring 20 and a-large headed stud 2t extends through the slot into the topof'the handle ll. Thissecures the-handle I! to the handle it but permits limited relative movement between the two handles.

When an operator wishes to lift an objecthe places the lifting device on it with the "rubber cup in engagement with the'object. The-operator then presses thepalm of his handdown-on the handle l5 with the diaphragm ll resting'on a sheet and compressional forces are transmitted through the compression member 16 and the washer [8 to the metal cup l2 and thence to the peripheral edge portion of the diaphragm toseal it against the sheet [0 which is to be lifted. The operators fingers curve underneath the handle H in a position such that he can pull the handle ll up into the hollow 20 in the interior of. the handle [5. This pulls the central portion of the rubber diaphragm II up into the interior of. the

metal cup 12 and establishes a partial vacuum between the diaphragm and the plate l0, and simultaneously fiattens the spring 20. The operator can then lift the plate ID as the lifting device is securely attached to it. So long as the operator maintains the handle I! in its retracted position the plate 10 will be securely held, but upon the operator releasing his finger pressure on the handle I1 the partial vacuum together with the spring 20 returning to its natural position will pull the handle I! back into its original position and the partial vacuum will be reduced permitting the handling implement to be easily disengaged from the plate. It will be seen, therefore, that only so long as the operator maintains his finger pressure the plate will be connected to the handling implement, and that the release of the plate is automatic upon the plate being set down and the operator releasing the handle I'l. Thus the device lends itself to very rapid lifting, carrying and releasing of sheet material. Such construction also automatically establishes a greater partial vacuum and therefore a more positive action for heavier sheet material than for lighter material. This is because practically all of the weight of the material I is transmitted through handle I! to the operators fingers and results in increased forces tending to hold the handle I! up into the handle IE. This means that the operator need not squeeze the two handles together while transporting the load and affords a comfortable carrying position for heavy loads.

While there have been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore, aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A handling implement primarily for flat sheets of rigid material comprising, a solid resilient diaphragm whose peripheral edge lies in a plane, a rigid cup mounted over said diaphragm with the lip of said cup engaging the peripheral edge portion of said diaphragm and with the central portion of the cup spaced away from the central portion of said diaphragm, a stem having one end connected to the central portion of the diaphragm extending up through a hole in the central portion of said cup, a first handle connected to and symmetrically above the other end of said stem and adapted to be gripped by the fingers of an operator, a second handle symmetrically above said stem and above and spaced from said first handle, means connecting said second handle directly to said first handle, and substantially rigid force transfer means in engagement with said second handle and said rigid cup for transferring compressional forces from said second handle to said rigid cup whereby an operator with one hand around the two handles upon squeezing the two handles together can pull the first handle toward the second handle thereby pulling the central portion of said diaphragm up into said cup while simultaneously pushing the handling implement down against a flat sheet.

2. A handling implement as set forth in claim 1, further characterized by said means connect ing said second handle to said cup being substantially rigid to compressional forces exerted in a direction from said second handle toward said cup whereby an operator can press said diaphragm firmly against the object to be handled.

3. A handling implement as set forth in claim 1, further characterized by said second handle being hollow at its underneath side and by said first handle being adapted to fit into the hollow within said second handle.

4. A handling implement as set forth in claim 1, further characterized by spring means located between said first and said second handles biasing said handles away from each other.

5. A handling implement as set forth in claim 4, further characterized by means connecting said spring means to each of said handles.

6. A handling implement primarily for flat sheets of rigid material comprising, a solid resilient diaphragm whose peripheral edge lies in a plane, a rigid cup mounted over said diaphragm with the lip of said cup engaging the peripheral edge portion of said diaphragm and With the central portion of the cup spaced away from the central portion of said diaphragm, a stem having one end connected to the central portion of the diaphragm extending up through a hole in the central portion of said cup, a first handle connected to and symmetrically above the other end of said stem and adapted to be gripped by the fingers of an operator, a second handle, connection means connecting said second handle permanently to said cup with the handle permanently located symmetrically above said stem, said connection means being substantially rigid to compressional forces exerted in a direction from said second handle toward said cup whereby an operator using said second handle can press said diaphragm firmly against the object to be handled, said first handle being positioned between said cup and said second handle and being spaced away from said second handle whereby an operator with one hand around the two handles upon squeezing the two handles together can pull the first handle toward the second handle thereby pulling the central portion of said diaphragm up into said cup while simultaneously pushing the handling implement down against a flat sheet.

'7. A handling implement as set forth in claim 6, further characterized by said second handle being hollow at its underneath side and by said first handle being positioned within said hollow but spaced from said second handle.

8. A handling implement as set forth in claim 7, further characterized by spring means mounted between said first and said second handles bias ing said handles away from each other.

9. A handling implement as set forth in claim 8, further characterized by means connecting said spring means to each of said handles.

HARRY H. LENHART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 855,123 McNabb et a1 May 28, 1907 1,056,478 Westfield Mar. 18, 1913 2,193,097 Hildebrand Mar. 12, 1940 2,209,424 Shipman et al. July 30, 1940 7 2,212,755 Solomon Aug. 27, 1940 2,303,393 Schmidt Dec. 1, 1942 2,341,621 Johnson Feb. 15, 1944 2,351,666 Cohen June 20, 1944 2,370,938 Cohen Mar. 6, 1945 7 2,420,811 Brewster May 20, 1947 

